A Brief Look Around the East

Let me preface this by saying I am really bored during this storm and have some time to kill. Anyway, this thread is by no means a "We're screwed" thread. I also realize that it is only July and Lou still has time to make moves.

Atlantic

NJ Devils:Key Losses- Zach Parise, Alexei Ponikarovsky Key Additions- Obviously there are some big holes to fill in the top 9. Lou's best bet is to deal one of our dmen for help up front. Going into battle in October (?), I do NOT feel comfortable with the lineup. I'd predict a 6-10 finish

NY Rangers:Key Losses- Artem Anisimov, Brandon DubinskyKey Additions- Rick Nash, Jeff HalpernWhile I think Nash is overrated and certainly not worth his contract, he is going to help their offense. With that being said, the Rags certainly got there fair share of shooting luck and didnt have to deal with a lot of injuries despite the style they play. I could see them being a 4-6 team in the east

NY Islanders-Key Losses- PA Parenteau Key Additions- Lubomir VisnovskyWith the acquisition of Visnovsky, the Isles are getting a quality offensive dman. However, the Slovak has appealed the legitimacy of the transaction. With or without him, I cant see the Isles finishing much better than last year

Philadelphia FlyersKey Losses- James Van Riemsdyk, Jaromir Jagr, Sergei Bobrovsky,Matt Carle The respect of 29 NHL GMsKey Additions- Luke Schenn, Ruslan FedotenkoIt wouldnt be summer if the Flyers werent trying to overhaul their roster. It is obvious that the Flyers need(ed) help on the blueline, so they addressed it in some unconventional ways. Why Homer decided to deal JVR (a solid 2nd liner with 30 g potential) for Luke Schenn was a mystery to many, but it was the enormous offer sheet that RFA Shea Weber signed that grabbed the headlines. The Weber-less Flyers defense has not gotten much better (if at all). Look for Couturier, Schenn and Voracek to play a bigger role offensively. They will probably finish around the same position.

Pittsburgh Penguins-Key Losses- Jordan Staal, Steve SullivanKey Additions- Brandon Sutter, Tomas VokounIt appears the Pens decided to address the poor play of MA Fleury in the playoffs. They signed former Vezina candidate Tomas Vokoun to back him up. Whether this is meant to give Fleury competition or rest remains to be seen, but if the Pens stay healthy, they can challenge for the Presidents Trophy

NortheastBoston Bruins-Key Losses- Brian bleepin Rolston (lolol), Tim ThomasKey Additions-The only real change for the B's will be in net. For whatever reason, Tim Thomas has decided to go MIA and will let the youngster,Tuuka Rask, take the reigns. Rask has shown the ability to be an elite netminder in the past and should have little trouble succeeding

Montreal Canadiens-Key Losses- Key Additions- Alex Galchenyuk (?), Brandon PrustIt appears the Habs will go to war with a very similar team they iced last year. If guys like Markov and Gionta stay healthy, they could have a rebound year

Ottawa Senators-Key Losses- Nick Foligno, Filip KubaKey Additions- Guillaume Latendresse, Mark Methot Here is a team I could see sliding down a bit. I dont see Alfredsson, Spezza and Karlsson having the same success. However, they do have some young guns who could make an impactToronto Maple Leafs-Key Losses- Luke SchennKey Additions- JVRLOL not worth my time

SoutheastCarolina Hurricanes-Key Losses- Brandon SutterKey Additions- Jordan Staal, Alexander Semin, Joe CorvoThis is a team that scares me. They added two very good top 6 forwards and I think their defense will improve. Pitkanen, Gleason, McBain, Faulk, Harrison and Corvo is not shabby at all. Of course they still have Cam Ward in goal. They are definitely the early favorites in the division

Florida Panthers-Key Losses- Jason GarrisonKey Additions- Peter Mueller, Filip Kuba, Jonathan HuberdeauThe feel story that was the Florida Panthers look poised to make the playoffs for a second straight year. The additions of Huberdeau and Mueller up front will give them more depth. However, Jose Theodore and Scott Clemmmensen in net could be a problem

Tampa Bay Lightning-Key Losses- Dwayne RolosonKey Additions- Anders Lindback, Sami Salo, Matt CarleDue to injuries on defense and the awful play from Roloson, TB missed the playoffs after reaching the ECF the year before. Lindback is a question mark, but he is a huge goalie with outstanding reflexes (not a bad combo). If he plays well, look for them to challenger for a playoff spot

Washington Capitals-Key Losses- Alexander Semin, Tomas Vokoun, Dennis WidemanKey Additions- Mike Ribeiro The Adam Oates led Capitals will look to build on their success from last year. Even though they lost key contributors from each position, they still have enough talent to win the division. The good news is that they got the 2nd line center they finally looking for

Winnipeg Jets-Key Losses- Tanner GlassKey Additions- Alexei Ponikarovsky, Olli Jokinen, Al MontoyaThey Jets added two top 9 forwards and lost a 4th liner. Not a bad trade off. If Evander Kane, Alex Burmistrov and Zach Bogosian take the next step forward, they have a shot to make the playoffs

Solid post and good discussion to have. Don't have time for my thoughts right now, but on a quick glance, I can see some "key losses" missing for some teams. Isles with Parenteau. Panthers with Garrison. Some "key additions" missing include the Lightning with Carle. Habs with Prust. Islanders with Erik Boulton. Devils, obviously, with Kris Barch(y).

Edited by devilsrule33, 26 July 2012 - 11:36 PM.

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"The Stanley Cup has fallen from the Stars. The new millennium has its first Stanley Cup Champion, and it's the New Jersey Devils." Mike Miller calling the Devils winning the Stanley Cup.

"It goes to the captain and then there are handoffs during a skate around the ice" Mike Emrick as Scott Stevens is being presented the Stanley Cup.

Solid post and good discussion to have. Don't have time for my thoughts right now, but on a quick glance, I can see some "key losses" missing for some teams. Isles with Parenteau. Panthers with Garrison. Some "key additions" missing include the Lightning with Carle. Habs with Prust. Islanders with Erik Boulton. Devils, obviously, with Kris Barch(y).

re: Florida Panthers - Will Huberdeau be joining the big club this year? Anyone know?

I believe the GM has basically guaranteed he will be in the NHL next year.

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Your unconditional rejection of violence makes you smugly think of yourselves as noble, as enlightened, but in reality it is nothing less than abject moral capitulation to evil. Unconditional rejection of self-defense, because you think its a supposed surrender to violence, leaves you no resort but begging for mercy or offering appeasement.

-Terry Goodkind

Sex Panther cologne -- 50 percent of the time, it works every time.

-Anchorman

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

As things stand right now, you can make a good case that the Devils are a borderline playoff team and really nothing more.

Or that they aren't that different than last years team, which finished top third in the league.

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Your unconditional rejection of violence makes you smugly think of yourselves as noble, as enlightened, but in reality it is nothing less than abject moral capitulation to evil. Unconditional rejection of self-defense, because you think its a supposed surrender to violence, leaves you no resort but begging for mercy or offering appeasement.

-Terry Goodkind

Sex Panther cologne -- 50 percent of the time, it works every time.

-Anchorman

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

I think you could make a better case that they aren't after losing Parise, while many teams in the East have gotten a lot better. I'm just a little too lazy right now to make that case, haha.

I'm not too sure a full year of Zidlicky and Zajac doesn't help a lot more than people think.

0

Your unconditional rejection of violence makes you smugly think of yourselves as noble, as enlightened, but in reality it is nothing less than abject moral capitulation to evil. Unconditional rejection of self-defense, because you think its a supposed surrender to violence, leaves you no resort but begging for mercy or offering appeasement.

-Terry Goodkind

Sex Panther cologne -- 50 percent of the time, it works every time.

-Anchorman

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

I'm not too sure a full year of Zidlicky and Zajac doesn't help a lot more than people think.

They obviously help, but every team in the league can sight injured players returning that will improve their team. Fans usually only focus on their own team's injuries (not saying you). Pittsburgh with Crosby and Letang. Carolina with Pitknanen and Skinner. Washington with Backstrom and Green. Philly with Meszaros and Schenn. Canadians with Gionta, Gomes and Markov.

One thing the Devils have always relied on is the shootout. Been talked about a lot here last season, and who knows if the success continues without Parise. He becomes a lot more valuable when you take that success into account.

0

"The Stanley Cup has fallen from the Stars. The new millennium has its first Stanley Cup Champion, and it's the New Jersey Devils." Mike Miller calling the Devils winning the Stanley Cup.

"It goes to the captain and then there are handoffs during a skate around the ice" Mike Emrick as Scott Stevens is being presented the Stanley Cup.

One thing the Devils have always relied on is the shootout. Been talked about a lot here last season, and who knows if the success continues without Parise. He becomes a lot more valuable when you take that success into account.

I was thinking about this earlier. Parise was clutch in shootouts - usually. He did go on a serious cold streak for a while this past season, though. If Kovalchuk continues to go first, and Elias is fine being the anchor in third, the second spot could be a bit of a competition among the team.

Also, I hate feeling like I'm nit-picking, but in the original post Brandon Prust is not listed as a "key loss" for the Rangers... but I feel like the Rangers are really hoping Taylor Pyatt (key addition) can fill his shoes. Prust is a pest, but he's capable of producing offensively and he was a key component of their penalty kill last season.

The Fedotenko/Asham out/in doesn't quite make the "key" level, I don't feel.

I feel like we should try to get Jonathon Cheechoo .... we can get him cheap and he still has skill I know it

Unless you've got a time machine and a way to lure Joe Thornton to New Jersey to play for the Devils, he's not worth it. His skating is horrible and he's just not the same shooter he was when Thorton was setting him up. He put up 20+ goals in the AHL last season, but as much as I dislike the idea of re-upping Sykora... Sykora's better for the Devils than Cheechoo.